Which is more eco-friendly: paper or biodegradable plastic? (2024)

FAQs

Which is more eco-friendly: paper or biodegradable plastic? ›

Paper bags have some advantages over plastic bags when it comes to sustainability. They are easier to recycle, and, because they are biodegradable, they can be used for purposes like composting.

However, biodegradable plastic bags may struggle to degrade effectively in unsuitable environments, such as regular landfill sites. In summary, while paper bags have an advantage in terms of recycling and reuse, their manufacturing process consumes significant resources.

However, scientific research shows just the opposite. Plastic bags outperform paper bags environmentally – on manufacturing, on reuse, and on solid waste volume and generation.

When glass is left in the natural environment, it is less likely to cause pollution than plastic. Unlike plastics, which break down into microplastics that can leach into our soils and water, glass is non-toxic.

This means that the product will break down naturally once disposed off. However, this might not be completely true. Eco-friendly products come in two major classifications. These are biodegradables and compostables.

Paper is biodegradable because is made from plant materials and most plant materials are biodegradable. Paper is easily recycled and can be recycled up 6 or 7 times before the paper fibres become too short to be used for paper production, deeming it more sustainable than plastic.

Biodegradable Plastics Can Decompose Quickly

Under the right circ*mstances, bio-polymers can decompose fast. For things to break down properly, you need warmth and moisture so that natural processes can get to work. If these conditions are met, some biodegradable plastics can breakdown within just a few weeks.

The higher the recycled content in your paper stock, the more eco-friendly it is. Choose 100% recycled paper if you want the look and feel of traditional uncoated paper, while ensuring zero trees are cut down for your project.

Making pulp and paper requires vast amounts of water. Paper mills may also discharge many pollutants into surrounding water bodies, which causes damage to aquatic ecosystems and threatens the health of people who live near the mill.

Glass bottles are a safe and durable choice that do not contain any chemicals that could potentially leach into the milk or formula. However, they can be heavy and awkward to hold for babies that have reached a certain level of independence and are more expensive than plastic bottles.

Can rubber replace plastic? ›

Rubber is durable, and more eco-friendly than plastic. It lasts longer, and stands up better against heat and cold than plastics. It's safer for your products, too, with no estrogen-mimicking toxins like BPA to worry about.

Glass: up to 4,000 years

A frightening 4,000 years is how long it takes a glass bottle to decompose in the environment. Every time we leave a recipient of this kind in the countryside, we are putting the environment and its ecosystem at risk.

It doesn't mean the product doesn't contain chemicals, because not all chemicals are inherently harmful to the environment. Similarly, an eco-friendly product may not be all natural as synthetic products also don't always imply harm or toxicity.

"As long as you have good bacterial activity, you can decompose in probably a month." But this is a rarely a body's fate these days. Most will be cremated, buried in a casket, or sealed in a vault - eating up wood, land, and other resources in the process.

Non-biodegradable materials are not easily affected by the natural process as they do not react with and dissolve in the soil easily. Some of these items that are commonly used in day to day lives are plastic products, aluminium cans, bottles, metal scraps, glasses, grocery bags and Styrofoam (polystyrene).

Biodegradable plastics are made from oil, so they participate in the depletion of a finite fossil source of energy. Fossil fuel extraction and the plastic industry are linked to climate change and significant pollution at all stages of production.

A bag's impact is more than just its associated carbon emissions: Manufacturing a paper bag requires about four times as much water as a plastic bag. Additionally, the fertilizers and other chemicals used in tree farming and paper manufacturing contribute to acid rain and eutrophication of waterways at higher rates.

Packaging made from compostable materials, such as bagasse (sugarcane fiber), bamboo, molded pulp, or mushroom mycelium provide an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional packaging. These materials break down naturally and can be composted alongside organic waste.